The Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary and Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton will receive funding to add more spaces and staff, April 24, 2023. (Photo: ID18530867 Dreamstime.com)

By David Opinko

$12 million to add more seats and staff to children’s hospitals in Calgary and Edmonton

Apr 24, 2023 | 3:47 PM

CALGARY, AB – Alberta’s two children’s hospitals will be able to accomodate more patients.

The Government of Alberta has announced $12 million as part of the 2023 provincial budget to add seats and staff at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary and Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.

Health Minister Jason Copping said the respiratory illness season this past winter highlighted the need for additional surge capacity for pediatric care.

“We know we need more beds and staff in our health care system, including specialized beds for young Albertans and the professionals needed to support them. This new funding creates capacity in our system so we can respond to the evolving needs of Alberta families,” said Copping.

The children’s hospital in Calgary will receive another 10 surge beds and six pediatric intensive care unit beds, up from the current capacity of 141 beds. There will also be another 61 permanent, year-round critical care staff.

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Edmonton’s children’s hospital will have an additional 12 surge peds, one pediatric intensive care bed, and 52 more staff members. It currently has 236 beds.

Kathy Le-Williams, a registered nurse at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, said the extra space and staff will provide much-needed relief.

“For me, this announcement will help ensure myself, my team, and pediatric care providers throughout Alberta, are better equipped to ensure our young patients have the care they need, when it is needed most,” said Le-Williams. “These resources will not only benefit our patients but will also have a significantly positive impact on the well-being of health care workers like myself.”

Timeframes for when work is expected to be completed were not provided.

READ MORE: AHS redeploys staff from children’s respite facility to Alberta Children’s Hospital